Question: Explain (1) the process by which Descartes uses skepticism to refute skepticism, and (2) what first principle does this lead him to? (3) Explain why this project was important for Descartes to accomplish.

Expert answer

Explain (1) the process by which Descartes uses skepticism to refute skepticism

Descartes' refutation of skepticism is based on the idea that there is a certain amount of knowledge that is innate, or inborn. This innate knowledge cannot be doubted, because it is part of our very nature. From this starting point, Descartes then goes on to prove the existence of God and the objective reality of the external world.

The first step in Descartes' argument is to show that there is something that we can know for certain. He does this by pointing out that even if we doubt everything else, we cannot doubt that we are doubting. In other words, even if everything else is an illusion, we still know that we exist. This is because when we doubt something, we are using our own minds. And since we know that our minds exist, we can be certain that we exist as well.

From this starting point, Descartes then goes on to prove the existence of God. He does this by showing that the only way to explain our innate knowledge is to suppose that it comes from a perfect being who created us. This being must be all-powerful and all-good, because otherwise he could not have given us this knowledge. Therefore, God exists and he has given us the ability to know things for certain.

Finally, Descartes shows that the external world is really there and not just an illusion. He does this by arguing that even if we doubt the existence of other people and physical objects, we cannot doubt that our own minds exist. And since our minds are part of the external world, this means that the external world must be real as well.

Thus, Descartes' refutation of skepticism is based on the idea that there is certain knowledge that is innate, or inborn. From this starting point, he goes on to prove the existence of God and the objective reality of the external world.

What first principle does this lead him to?

The first principle that this leads Descartes to is the existence of God. He argues that the only way to explain our innate knowledge is to suppose that it comes from a perfect being who created us. This being must be all-powerful and all-good, because otherwise he could not have given us this knowledge. Therefore, God exists and he has given us the ability to know things for certain.